Publisher Ubisoft today launched a new cross-platform online service dubbed Uplay, which will reward players for in-game actions and accomplishments among other functions.

The first game to take advantage of Uplay is Ubisoft Montreal's Assassin's Creed II, which just launched on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in North America today and arrives in European territories and shops come Friday.

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Based on in-game actions, players earn "Uplay Win Units" that can be exchanged for "rewards such as exclusive in-game content or digital items." Assassin's Creed II rewards include the in-game Auditore Family Crypt and an Altair... Read more

'Lineage," a live-action short film promoting the impending release of Assassin's Creed 2, is now available for your viewing pleasure and for download on FileShack. Sword fights, intrigue, and the requisite assassinations are all present as we follow the anti-hero father of Ezio through various locales in Firenze, Italy, circa 1476.

"Family. Justice. Honor. These are the values guiding my blade."

With impressive production values and a run-time of almost 36 minutes, you may want to pop some corn and grab a beverage before diving in.

Assassin's Creed 2 releases on PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and iPhone next Tuesday, November 17, with Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines hitting the PSP the same day. The PC version is due out in 2010.

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As the Renaissance villa was a great symbol of power, this new Assassin's Creed 2 dev diary explains, star Ezio can spend his ill-gotten gains on improving his manor and the surrounding town--which will generate income and provide a posh place to stash gear.

The Ubisoft Montreal gang also discusses the database functions of the Animus virtual reality experience, which fills players in on famous landmarks and important characters.

The open-world freelance murder simulator is headed to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 17, while the PC version isn't due to arrive until early 2010.

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More Assassin's Creed 2 media has crept silently from the shadows and explains some differences between Ezio, the series' new protagonist, and his predecessor Altair.

Unlike Altair, who was trained by a cabal of assassins to be a professional killer, the new "hero" Ezio is described as a "man of the Renaissance" out for revenge. In other words, killing isn't just his day job.

Assassin's Creed 2 jumps out and shanks the PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 17, with the PC version to arrive in early 2010.

Check out the new trailer below, or the "Tramps and Thieves" trailer here.

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The importance of having friends in both high and low places is imparted in the latest Assassin's Creed II trailer, which details the open-world game's various factions.

Ubisoft Montreal's premeditated murder simulation sequel hits PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 17, with portable iPhone and Nintendo DS renditions and Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines PSP coming the same day. AC2 PC, meanwhile, arrives in early 2010.

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The first in a "series of short films" inspired by Assassin's Creed II has been released by publisher Ubisoft, providing a fourteen minute glimpse into the life of Giovanni Auditore da Firenze--the father of Assassin's Creed II protagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze.

The videos were crafted with the help of Ubisoft subsidiary Hybride, a visual effects house known for its work on Avatar, 300 and Sin City among other films.

As for the game itself, Assassin's Creed II hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 17. Nintendo DS and iPhone editions are also due that day, as is Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines for PSP, with the PC version of Creed 2 now slated for early 2010.

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Progression is a very important part of games. Progressing through a game. Going from one level to the next. Completing a stage. Video games.

Eventually this lengthy Assassin's Creed 2 dev diary moves beyond the obvious and covers more detailed facets of the game's design. There's also a bonus punch. Can't go wrong there.

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Though this developer diary for Assassin's Creed II is titled "All's Fair in Love and War," the "love" part doesn't really factor in. Mostly, it's about new enemy and weapon types.

Ubisoft Montreal's open-world sequel hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 17, with the once-simultaneous PC edition now slated to arrive during early 2010.

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Leonardo da Vinci plays the Q to your 007 in Assassin's Creed II, supplying slayer Ezio with technologically advanced weapons like the "mace" and the "poison blade."

Actually, da Vinci did in fact design a number of radical weapons for the age--though he likely did not hand them out to street assassins in exchange for Kill Bux.

Assassin's Creed II arrives November 17 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Expect the PC port to show up sometime next year.

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To celebrate the revelation that Heroes and Veronica Mars star Kristen Bell will reprise the role of "Lucy" in Assassin's Creed II, publisher Ubisoft sent over two screenshots from the game itself and close to a dozen pictures of the actress in the recording studio. The open-world assassination game, which sees the mysterious Lucy assisting Desmond as he uses a specialized machine to relive the genetic memories of his ancestors, hits PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 17 and PC next year.

And in the event you wanted to see actual gameplay, look no further than below, where you'll find just over four minutes of narrated footage ... Read more

Having just announced Assassin's Creed II will be hitting DS too, Ubisoft has now released a Tokyo Game Show trailer for the open-world murder simulator.

Assassin's Creed 2 improves the original with more mission variety, NPC pals, more weapons and the joys of an economy, hitting Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 20 with the PC release delayed until early 2010 "To deliver the best quality game."

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Once slated to arrive alongside its PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 brethren on November 17, the PC release of Assassin's Creed II has now been pushed into early 2010.

"Assassin's Creed 2 PC has moved to the first quarter of 2010," Ubisoft revealed via Twitter. "A bit more time for the dev team to deliver the best quality game to you."

The first Assassin's Creed also saw a later PC release, accompanied by the "Director's Cut" moniker and some new missions. No word if AC2 PC will get similar treatment.

Ubisoft's video diary series for Assassin's Creed II continues below, with the Ubisoft Montreal development team talking up the sequel's more varied mission structure.

The open-world action game hits PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 17.

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To mark the conclusion of PAX 09, Ubisoft has issued a six-and-a-half-minute video walkthrough of Assassin's Creed II that summarizes what was on display at the show.

The open-world murder simulator sequel, once again crafted by Ubisoft Montreal, arrives on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and now iPhone come November 17, 2009.

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"Ezio is like the Cadillac of Renaissance warriors," the developer said. Johnson's eyes widened. His lip quivered. He was on to something big. As he opened his mouth, his finger extended for emphasis, James, as usual, calmly stole his idea: "I've got it. We'll use the music from an actual Cadillac commercial!"

Ubisoft Montreal's open-world murder simulator Assassin's Creed 2 is headed for a PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 release on November 17.

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Ubisoft Montreal's resident celebrity producer Jade Raymond (Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed II) is to lead Ubisoft's new Toronto-based development studio, the company said today.

Slated to open by the year's end, Ubisoft Toronto will be working on "AAA games and new intellectual properties," Raymond noted.

The studio is eventually expected to provide some 800 new jobs.

Ubisoft explained that Jade will manage the studios' "day-to-day operations...under the governance of Yannis Mallat," who serves as the CEO of Ubisoft Montreal and Toronto.

"I'm excited to have Jade managing our Toronto studio," added Mallat. "With more than 12 years of experience in the video game industry, Jade's knowledge and leadership as an industry veteran are major assets in building the Toronto studio."

Zesty new Assassin's Creed 2 screenshots from Gamescom show Ubisoft Montreal's new murderer, Ezio, wielding various weapons and getting out to enjoy 15th century Italy.

Assassin's Creed 2 is coming to PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 17.

The second dev diary for Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed 2 delves into the characters that populate the historical world of the game. Thieves, courtesans and mercenaries will help you either distract, elude, or "literally beat up your enemies."

Assassin's Creed 2 arrives November 17 on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

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The first Assassin's Creed 2 developer diary introduces the sequel's star Ezio, a 15th century Florentine budding banker who spends his nights stabbing people in the neck.

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Assassin's Creed 2 is due November 17 on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with Ubisoft promising "more variety in missions, surprising and engaging new gameplay elements, diverse weapons and a profound character progression" over the original.

Chasing an Assassin's Creed 2 cinematic trailer and screenshots comes, at long last, in-game footage, of a mission which sees Ezio pilot Leonardo da Vinci's famous glider.

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Assassin's Creed 2 is released for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 17.